Pop Idol just wouldn't be the same without Ant and Dec and their cheeky geordie ways. They tell us what its like to present the most popular talent show in the UK

What's it like to be working on Pop Idol again?
Ant: It's great. We loved it last time. It was a show we never imagined would ever turn out to be the phenomenon that it was. We loved the idea and when we were asked we took 30 seconds to say yes. We knew it would be good, but we never thought it would as huge as it was. So to be back doing it again is fantastic.
Dec: It's like being in a family. It's just really exciting seeing all the kids coming in and singing.

Has anyone changed since last time?
Dec: It's the same again. Everybody has come back so it's the same team. I think the contestants are more aware of what's going on, though.
Ant: They're a bit more media savvy.
Dec: It's good though because we've raised their game a bit and the standard is higher this year.

Have you got any stories to tell us about contestants who have raised their game?
Dec: We've seen a lot of contestants from the first series who have gone away and really taken things on board what they were told the first time around. And they've obviously watched people winning the competition. In the first series they would just come in and sing, and now it's more about what they're wearing and their style.
Ant: A lot of people this time are coming in just to be on television. And all the judges are moaning and saying, 'Oh, don't waste my time'. But we think it's hilarious! There was one guy dressed up as a banana in Glasgow, which really made my day.

Do you enjoy mingling with all the wannabes?
Both: Yes.
Ant: We've got a great relationship with the contestants. We did with the first series. They know that we're on their side and we're with them.

Have you had a few tears this year?
Dec: We've had all kinds of tears. Lots of tears of relief and joy and happiness at people getting through. That's kind of what we're here for. We've had to audition for stuff before and we know what they go through. So we're here to tell them that it's not the end of the world if they don't get through. When they wake up tomorrow it will be yesterday's news and they've got to move on and learn from it.

Last year you had lots of ladies after you. Has it been the same this time?
Dec: Aye, it's been quite good!
Ant: We've had a certain amount of attention, which has been quite nice.
Dec: It's good fun.

Which has been your favourite regional audition so far?
Dec: Manchester. London is great because it's close to home, and Glasgow is great because they're mad up there, but in Manchester they come from all over.
Ant: You get people from Newcastle and Ireland and Wales...
Dec: And Cornwall. Everywhere. You get the best mix of people, and it's definitely our favourite place.

Have you got a favourite moment so far?
Ant: There was this one time when these two girls turned up drunk on Tequila. They were sisters and the first one went in and didn't get through, and then the second one went in and instead of singing she told them they were wrong for not letting her sister through. Her sister could hear her arguing outside, so she said she was going to go back in, so we said she could, and there was this great big standing row. They were good fun.
Dec: My favourite were the identical twins, who weren't actually identical twins. They were two years apart. They tried to pull a scam because one didn't get through, so he tried again and pretended to be his twin brother. But the judges picked up on this and told him to go and get his twin brother and he didn't know what to do, and had to bring in his brother who was two years older than him and didn't look anything like him. It was great.

Is Simon being as nasty as last time?
Both: Yep.
Dec: He's just being exactly the same. You'd think he'd probably have to try a bit harder or be a lot worse, but he's just exactly the same.

Have you seen anyone so far you think could be the pop idol?
Ant: There have been a few. I'll tell you what's different this time from the first series is that because they watched the first series people are really nervous going in there because they know what's expected of them. But a lot of them have just got through. I think once they're though their confidence will go up because the judges have said yes and then they'll be slightly less nervous, and that's when we'll start spotting true pop idols. There have been some we like but I can't remember their names.
Dec: I've seen five people I think are potential winners, but I think once you get down to the last hundred and look at them more closely then you'll see things more clearly.

Is it as good for you as it was last year?
Dec: Aye, I think so.
Ant: We're getting hugs and kisses off of all the beautiful ladies.
Dec: And that's all that matters.